Dance in Cancer Care - Practitioner Training
Be a part of the Dance in Cancer Care movement.
Led by Move Dance Feel, this movement aspires to make dance available to everyone living with and beyond cancer. Addressing the current inequality in cancer care, we are a growing network of practitioners working at the intersection of dance and health.
The Dance in Cancer Care - Practitioner Training programme has been created to offer a practice space for dance artists who wish to lead dance in this context based on Move Dance Feel’s pioneering, evidence based work.
Be nurtured, and learn how to nurture.
Connect, and learn how to bring people into connection.
Dance, and learn how to enrich people's lives with dance.
This training adopts an iterative ‘learn by doing’ approach to development, and builds upon Move Dance Feel’s Dance in Cancer Care - Introductory Training programme. It guides trainees to interrogate, evolve and sustain their practice - individually and collectively.
It offers space for artists to come together to resource themselves, learn from one another, engage with reflexive practice, and explore both the rewards and complexities of working in the field of dance and health.
The programme is underpinned by both ancient and contemporary perspectives on health and healing, offering broader context to artists’ existing and emergent practice. Specifically, it will support artists in designing and delivering dance experiences with a focus on health, wellbeing, and cancer care.
Although this is primarily a practice based training programme, trainees are encouraged to engage with recommended texts and contribute to conversation spaces.
Programme focus
The Dance in Cancer Care – Practitioner Training forms part of the broader Dance and Health – Advancing Your Practice programme. It includes all five core focus areas from the Dance and Health training, plus two additional and specialised focus areas in dance in cancer care. Together, these seven interwoven focus areas are designed to deepen your understanding, artistic practice and facilitation skills. Click here see a detailed breakdown of the focus areas.
“I’m taking away the confidence to lead dance for communities living with cancer, and a refreshed outlook on my wider dance and health practice.”
The training is led by Emily Jenkins, Dance and Health specialist and Founder-Director of Move Dance Feel, alongside ten guest artists and contributors including staff at The Place / London Contemporary Dance School. Together they bring cross-sector expertise in: dance and health, community dance practice, teaching and facilitation, dance technique, artist wellbeing, dance science and research, somatic practice, pedagogy and education.
In addition to dance, the programme incorporates arts advocacy and activism, exploring the breath as medicine, creative health, navigating grief and loss in this work, and financial literacy.
Note: Completion of the Dance in Cancer Care – Introductory Training is required to take part in the Practitioner Training. For those interested in dance and health more generally, the Dance and Health – Advancing Your Practice programme may be more suitable.
“Emily has been an inspirational facilitator with a very articulate way of sharing her practice and I can go forward into this next phase of my work with the confidence to shout about the benefits, and rally the support I need from wider hospital staff.”
A supportive and inspiring learning community
This training brings together dance artists, facilitators, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds who share a passion for supporting people through dance. Learning alongside one another offers a rare opportunity for deep exchange - a space to share ideas, experiences, and insights, and to grow both personally and professionally.
Trainees are supported throughout by experienced teachers, artists and peers, forming a network that extends well beyond the programme itself. It’s a nurturing environment that encourages reflection, creativity, and confidence - helping you to sustain your practice and feel inspired in your work.
“I think one of the strengths of this training was learning with and from others and the community we built - to grow together.”
What to expect
Develop an understanding of cancer and an awareness of the side effects of diagnosis and treatment
Gain essential, in-depth knowledge of working effectively with people living with and beyond cancer - learning about specific support needs
Explore how to translate your practice to ensure it is accessible to a variety of people and different levels of experience
Design dance sessions underpinned by wellbeing theory and dance and cancer research findings
Refine your artistic and facilitation skills, and learn to lead with authenticity and confidence
Examine your own sense of wellbeing and approach to self care
Connect with a larger dance and health community of facilitators and artists
Who is it for?
The Practitioner Training is designed for*:
Dance artists with facilitation experience in community or health settings
Dancers transitioning from performance careers to participatory dance work
Dance movement therapists or somatic movement practitioners with professional training and experience
Health practitioners with an established dance practice integrating dance into their work
*Completion of the Dance in Cancer Care – Introductory Training is required to take part in the Practitioner Training (those who are a part of the Dance in Cancer Care Network).
We are looking for applicants who:
Are experienced in facilitating dance
Dance with diverse groups and communities (relating to an established or emerging practice)
Can commit to developing themselves, and their practice, in a group environment
Embrace mutual learning and contribute actively to the cohort
Can attend all in person training dates
“This work is so needed and this programme was so well thought out...a brilliant example of how this field can be and why it’s so important.”
Dates and location
Following a successful pilot with Middlesex University in 2024, this programme is evolving in partnership with The Place, one of the UK’s leading centres for contemporary dance. Insights from the pilot led to a refined and expanded version, running June to September 2026, and reflects a commitment to delivering high-quality, responsive, and evidence-informed training in dance and health.
This hybrid programme combines twelve in-person training days at The Place with twenty-four online learning sessions across four months.
In-person days:
2, 3, 4, 5 July 2026
6, 7, 8, 9 August 2026
17, 18, 19, 20 September 2026
All in person days are delivered at The Place in central London (WC1H 9PY). Trainees are responsible for organising and paying for their own travel and accommodation (where applicable). In person days are not digitally streamed - physical attendance is required in order to support skills and relationship development.
Online sessions:
The twenty-four online learning sessions will involve both practical and theoretical elements - spread across various dates between 1 June and 30 September.
Flexible learning: Sessions are scheduled at different times during weekdays and weekday evenings - making the training accessible alongside work, family, or other commitments. A full schedule, detailing specific dates and times, will be shared with trainees once they are welcomed into the programme. All online sessions will be recorded, creating a digital learning resource, so that trainees can catch up if unable to attend in real time.
“I really appreciate the flexibility this programme has offered. I’ve really enjoyed the in-person participation...We’ve also had online workshops, which have been wonderful. Some I’ve been able to join live, and others I’ve been able to catch up with in my own time, fitting them around parenting and home responsibilities.”
Cost
Dance in Cancer Care – Practitioner Training
Early Bird (Individuals): £1,250 (before 13 February 2026)
Full Cost (Individuals): £1,400
Early Bird (Organisations): £1,800 (before 13 February 2026)
Full Cost (Organisations): £1,950
*organisations include registered companies, charities and institutes of higher education, with 4 or more staff members. The cost is detailed per person.
Payment plans are available. A three-instalment payment plan is available upon request via The Place. If you would like to set this up, please contact the Box Office (020 7121 1100) and ask for Eleanor Farrow; the first instalment is payable immediately, with two further payments due before the programme begins on 1 June 2026.
“Total and utter joy to dance and play and reflect on our learning topics together. So great to hear how other people use the work, everyone having different experiences and using it in different ways but with a lot of commonality. ”
How to apply?
We are welcoming applications from Friday 12 December 2025, until Friday 20 March 2026.
Click on the button below to apply, and a staff member will be in touch with you once we've received your application.
During and after the training, artists will:
Be part of an ongoing learning community
Belong to a national and international network of dance and health professionals
Receive resources and evidence to support their practice
Have access to a body of research to support your practice
Be provided with a professional reference (on request)
Receive a CPD certificate
Please note, this is a practice based professional development opportunity. During and upon completion of the programme trainees will be invited to reflect on their learning and share how they are applying it in practice.
“The things that stand out to me are the evidence of need, supporting research and the structure of a Move Dance Feel session - so considered.”
“Emily and the team are doing valuable work, they are caring and supportive. Not everyone ‘gets it’ in how to approach people with cancer, that we don’t all refer to it as a battle! Move Dance Feel has found a way to engage with people with an understanding of how they actually feel.”
